Discovery Kenya - July, 2026

Discovery Kenya - July 9th - 20th, 2026

This is a continuation tour of the Rwanda Tour by Gate-1 with new Tour Managers. Country of Kenya, and itinerary.  I will continue the day's previous date format for continuity in this blog.

Day 6 - Friday, July 10th 2026 - Kigali Flight to Nairobi

We arrived in Nairobi at about 8: p.m. Eastern African time. We lost 1 hour due to the time change on this 1.5-hour flight.  Initially, no one from Gate-1 was to meet us, but our Tour manager finally arrived, and we were off to our hotel. The good news is that we won't be combined into another group, but will function just as the eight of us.  Also, two safari vehicles for us.  Great news.

Day 7- Saturday, July 11th 2026 - Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center 

After a very nice breakfast at the hotel restaurant, we visited the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (photo) to learn about the orphaned elephants raised there and later released into the wild. Elephant calves are brought here from all over the country to receive specialized care from highly dedicated staff.  In addition to the elephants, there was a baby Black Rino and a baby Zebra.  This was a highlight for the DW; she had been following these elephants for months prior.  She even knew the names of the two smallest.  Next, we visited the Giraffe Center, where you hand-feed Rothschild's Giraffes and learn more about their conservation efforts.  DW follows this Foundation as well.  Next, we drove towards the Ngong Hills for a tour of the Karen Blixen Museum, once the farmhouse of the prominent author of Out of Africa. We visited the original Farmhouse, Coffee Production area, and the beautiful grounds. We then went to the Kazuri Beads Workshop, which started in 1975 as a tiny workshop making ceramic beads by hand. Today, this center produces fine examples of genuine African jewelry out of clay gathered from nearby Mt. Kenya.  We then returned to the hotel for a brief break before meeting for an orientation and a drink at the hotel's beautiful patio bar. We then went to dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant, where they serve a wide variety of Kenyan meats in a churrasco style.  It was a lot to eat and included Soup, Salad, the Meats, and a dessert.  A different eating experience.  It was a great first full day in Kenya.

DAY 8, Sunday, July 12th - Evening Game Drive in Samburu National Park 

We were up at 6:00 a.m. to pack and leave our bags out @ 7:00 a.m.  We then had a nice Raddison Blu hotel breakfast buffet and met the group at 8:00 a.m heading northward on our longest drive of the trip to Samburu. IMHO the sceanry and drive isn’t as pretty as Rwanda. At about noon we stopped for lunch at Trout Tree Restaurant, built in an enormous fig tree below Mount Kenya on a moutain river. Very nice atmosphere and the food was great.  I ordered the fresh Trout and it was very nice.  A wonderful experience. After lunch we then drove to the Samburu National Recreation Area arriving at about 4:15 p.m.  We entered the park for our first game drive of the trip. I wasn’t expecting much as IMHO it was too hot and too early, but it was grand.  We saw in the order: Antelope, Zebras, Somolian Ostrich, two prides of Elephant including babies, Zebras from a distance, and many female Lions along the Ewaso Nyiro River.  It was amazing and I hope the newbies in our group appreciated so many sightings right off the bat.  It was unique.  We then went to our accomodation located ajacent, the S Samburu Intrepids Safari Lodge.  We were greeted with wash cloths and a juice of choice then heard from the Hotel Management.  We are staying in very nice Tents located along the riverbank, Glamping at it’s finest.  We then met for dinner in  the lodge overlooking the river.  I ordered the Red Snapper, might as well be a fish day.  The local pilsner beer, Tusker, was good.   We retired to Tent No.18 for a good nights rest.  BTW-all electrical power is off from midnight to 5:00 a.m.  Complete darkness, haven’t had that since Twisted Oak Ranch days.  A long day but well rewarded in the end.

DAY 9, Monday - July 13th, 2026 - Sunrise & Afternoon Game Drive in Samburu National Park. 

I was up early, while the DW stayed in bed, to do the 2+ hour Sunrise Game drive, but the animals were not interested in getting out that early. The sunrise was beautiful, though. We saw Elephants, Giraffes, and Buffalo, but nothing new until over an hour into the safari when we saw the Cheetah!! With two kits as a bonus.  We watched from a distance  as one never knows if this is your only photo opportunity.  Our wonderful guide, Christopher, took a chance, and we guessed where she might travel, so we executed a big flanking maneuver and searched.  Short wait and didn’t see her and was deciding to leave, when she came out of the bush directly in front of our Safari Truck. Amazing. G-I got some great photographs. This made the early up worthwhile.  Afterward, we headed back to the Samburu Intrepids Safari Lodge for breakfast, a nice full menu choice too.  The service and the view of the river were nice, as was the flute music.  I then went back to Tent 18 as DW never came to breakfast, but all was well; she is having a Pajama Day.  We met some new friends, as I saw monkeys about and offered a few snacks.  We then had a family of four monkeys make our beautiful porch overlook their home for a while.  I then took some time to update this blog.  At about noon, we went up to the bar for some Coca-Colas, then lunch at about 12;30ish.  I ordered a Short Ribs entree and a salad.  We then rested for a few hours until 3:15 p.m., when I attended a Group meeting before departing for our evening Safari at about 4:00 p;m. We explored some different areas, seeing mostly antelope of various varieties.  Our goal was to see a Leopard as we had not seen one, but the highlight was that we saw an ostrich chasing a Garaffe chasing an ostrich.  All were running basically the same speed over a long visible distance…It was a sight to see.  Our long-time experienced Guide said he had never seen such a thing and was quite amused.  As we approached the mountain outcrops, we saw a Klipspringer, a midsize antelope that actually runs up and down cliffs at high speed.  Amazing.  Spotting an Elephant, Garaffe, or zebra is more common, but we did see the elusive Leopard that we and two dozen other Jeeps had been searching for.  Another unique sighting was a large Chetah and two cubs feasting on an antelope.  Perhaps the same two we saw early this morning.  We returned to the Lodge a bit late, so a quick clean-up before dinner. A good menu tonight: I ordered a Green Salad, Broccoli Soup, the Tournedos of Beef with vegetables entree, and dessert.  All were good.  I retired, showered, then went to bed, and soon fell fast asleep. A very eventful day in the Sanburu Reserve.

DAY 10, Tuesday July 14th, 2026 - Game Viewing in Aberdare National Park  

I woke early as we have to pack uniquely due to our destination this evening. The DW was prepacked as she skipped dinner previously.  The Lodge did deliver hot milk and cookies to the tent at about 5:30 a.m. as a wake-up call.  I hurriedly packed, and we had all the bags out for pickup at 6:00 a.m.  We then had breakfast and were soon on our way by 6:30 a.m.  We did one last safari run through Samburu Park as we headed to the main gate of the Reserve.  Elephants, Zebras, and Giraffes were seen on the way out.  We were soon on the highway to Aberdare and our time at the Ark Lodge, located in Aberdare National Park. The Ark is unique because it is built on a bluff overlooking a watering hole, and the park's wildlife comes to you.  There are various viewing locations on the four levels.  We first arrive at the Aberdare Country Club, where we are furnished with a wonderful buffet lunch and register for the Ark Lodge.  The location is stunning with beautiful landscaping, and the buffet food was excellent.  We leave our Gate-1 manager and our primary luggage and board a bus to the Ark Lodge, only taking our backpacks or overnight bags. No porter service.  We arrived at the main Ark Lodge at about 3:00 p.m. and went to our assigned rooms.  We were in A20 the highest location, but not the best.  We were already blessed with a huge heard of Elephants at the waterhole so we were off to view the various viewing locations.  Some are enclosed, some outside, and some up close and personal.  The Elephants were there for several hours as different groups would arrive and leave.  I think the largest count at one time was over 30 Elephants.  On level C they have Bar Service so I enjoyed a Tusker beer and enjoyed watching the DW and others enjoy the interaction of the Elephants.  It was certainly easier than enduring the bouncing and the dust in the Safari Trucks.  Here is a LINK to the live feed of the watering hole. At 7:30 p,m, we enjoyed a buffet dinner in the dining room, it was nice but not as nice as the lunch at the Country Club earlier.  To be honest, the African foods can be good, but just not my favorite cusine.  I retired after dinner, the stairs had me worn out, althought I loved viewing fron the various viewing areas on the various levels.  We even found the almost secret eye-level Bunker viewing area (photo).  The rooms are basic, but do have a small window although the viewing is limited.  As an avid cruiser I appreciated that they refer to the rooms as cabins…I tend to do that a lot anyway.   I think all who visit should try this type of venue at least for day.  There are many in the area, including TreeTops, where Elizabeth II went up as a Princess and came down as a Queen.

DAY 11, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - Game Viewing in Aberdare National Park  

Grammer checks & photos to follow — so busy. —  Thanks

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda - July 2026

 

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda - Central Africa - July 5 to July 9 2016

We are on an adventure of a lifetime.  This journey is an experience we were looking forward to completing by this time in our lives.  We found a Gate-1 adventure during the dry season and decided to do it while we are able.  Followed by a Gate-1 Kenyan Safari Journey.

Day Zero and Day 1 - Saturday and Sunday, July 4th & 5th 2026 - Travel Days 

Our initial flight is from TPA to Washington Dulles, arriving in the early evening.  Hoping to see the USA 250 fireworks on our evening overnight flight to Brussels.  The first leg went very well, and the transatlantic looked to be going well initially, with great bulkhead seats.  We taxied off on time but paused on the tarmac before reaching the runway.  We should have continued on, and soon the thunderstorms delayed us.  Then the airport was closed due to the 4th of July military traffic around Washington, D.C.  This was so disappointing as we ended up on the runway for five hours.  Of course, after our delay, we began our eight-hour flight over the Atlantic Ocean.  We arrived several hours after our flight to Kigali departed.  Not many flights to Rwanda, and, in fact, the same flight for Sunday the following day was sold out.  We were rerouted to Istanbul for Monday, as they have a seven-hour evening flight to Kigali.  So that has become the plan.  The bags will be transferred to a new carrier (hopefully), and we were issued a room at the Novotel Hotel (photo).  After a short shuttle ride, we were checked in for a short rest this afternoon.  We were served a complimentary buffet meal and other menu options for dinner.  I did enjoy two Amstel draught beers in the hotel Bar.  The room is nice and clean, and we began adjusting to the time and getting some rest.  Very difficult to get hard facts as we are dealing with United Airlines, Brussels Air, and now Turkish Airlines.  And Gate-1 has really been no help whatsoever.  We were at least expecting boarding passes with seat assignments, terminal gate information, and news about our baggage.  We received conflicting reports from all, and we have three different reservation numbers.  We can only hope that Monday will be better.

Day 2 - Monday, July 6th 2026 - Extra Travel Day  (was to be Kigali arrival day) 

The day begins with a light breakfast and a very early shuttle back to the Airport Terminal.  We went straight to the Brussels Air desk, and they managed to switch our flight to a direct flight to Kihali, saving 5 hours of flight time.  We were then sent to the Brussels Air African Baggage check-in departure area just before it opened at 9:00 a.m.  We were assured that our luggage would be routed to our new flight.  That made us very happy campers.  We were able to do this as I found two seats had opened during the night, so we succeeded in our goal.  No help whatsoever from Gate-1.  I did inform them (G1) of the 5+ hour earlier arrival so our contact would be there.  I checked the Brussels Air App, and it indicated that indeed our bags were on board our flight.  We arrived at the Kigali airport at about 9:00 p.m.  (our original make-up flight would have been at 1:00 a.m).  We went through the local customs and had already purchased the Rwanda entry Visa.  I fortunately had my documentation, as their Customs computer systems are lax.  But we avoided the secondary manual Visa desk, as half of the flight had to.  Entry was going great.  We then went to baggage claim to pick up our luggage, and many others were waiting.  I logged in to the airport Wi-Fi to check my Apple tag.  What a surprise when I saw that our luggage was 4000 miles away in Brussels.  DW stayed at the luggage carousel, and I immediately went to the Baggage desk to confirm my baggage information.  They confirmed that they were indeed in Brussels.  Third Brussels Air screw-up.  The nice lady at the desk (Rwanda Air) assured me that they would be on the next flight that arrives the following evening.  Disappointing.  We entered the arrivals hall, and the Gate-1 representative, Yaya, was there.  He took us to the beautiful Kigali Serena Hotel (photo), where we arrived at about 9:30 p.m. Arrangements were made to have our laundry done overnight, and dinner could be room service.  We made it to our luxurious room by 10:00 p.m.  We need rest after a very long day.  Our laundry was picked up, and room service was delivered by 10:30 p.m. It was a fine meal. I ordered a Steak, Salad, and Fruit Bowl.  The Mixo Salad was perhaps the best salad ever;  it had Avacados, local vegetables, onions, and greens.  The fruit bowl was wonderful as well.  Also had my first Mützig beer. The huge bed offered a good night’s sleep. I wish we had arrived the day before as scheduled, as we would have enjoyed this hotel. 

Day 3 - Tuesday, July 7th 2026 - Kigali City Tour - Kigali Genocide Memorial 

We were up at about 7:00-ish, awaiting delivery of our laundry and fourth day in the same clothes, but at least fresh today.  I had some fruit in the room, then we had time for a brief breakfast in the beautiful hotel dining room.  We then met our group of (only) eight experienced travelers at about 8:00 a.m in the lobby. After a brief introduction and orientation, we split into groups of four, since we had two safari-type vehicles, and we were off by 9:00 a.m.  It was amazing to see the geographical high hills in an urban environment.  The streets were full of motorcycles and the sidewalks full of locals going about their daily routines.  It was different for sure.  We entered the central business district, which was bustling with activity.  Women in traditional clothing were everywhere and outside the CBD, usually carrying items on their heads.  A sight that continued throughout the drive today, so common to see a woman with items on their head, a baby wrapped up within the traditional dress, and hands full.  Our primary stop was at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where we remembered the victims of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, when ethnic Hutu militias massacred a million ethnic Tutsis.  I had just watched the movie Hotel Rwanda, which cinematically depicted the terrible period from a personal perspective.  The Memorial Museum does the same with history and photography from a more historical perspective.  Tragic times in Rwanda.  The presentation was wonderful, with self-guided audio stations throughout the museum, gardens, and reflection areas.  Over 250,000 are buried on the grounds in mass graves, and more victims are added as they are found to this day.  After the visit, we then began the drive north.  Hills that became mountains and an interesting environment, changing as we get more into the remote countryside.  Beautiful areas and also impoverished areas along the way.  We reached our destination, Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge, where we enjoyed a hearty group lunch.  I had a good Beetroot Salad and Vegetable soup with a Chicken entree.  Afterward, the group went to the Karisoke Gorilla Research Center established by Dian Fossey.  Terry and I went into town to get a Notary to document the authorization for the pickup of our luggage at the airport. We actually enjoyed interacting with the locals. I also picked up Glucosamine at the Pharmany.   We returned to the Lodge just before the others, so we checked into our spacious space (we had first choice) straightaway. We had an end unit with a lovely outdoor space and a very roomy interior.  Very Nice.  I enjoyed a Mützig beer before a group dinner this evening in the Lodge dining room. The staff here is excellent. The good news is that our luggage arrived in Kigali this evening. It was a great actual first day on the Tour.

Day 4 - Wednesday, July 8th 2026 - Gorilla Trekking 

I woke very early and checked on my luggage; it indicated delivery here at the Lodge, and I confirmed by walking to reception and saw them… I’ll get them later, once they open early for breakfast. At least we will have our gear for the highlight day of this trip. I had the luggage at about 5:30 a.m., and we immediately prepared for our day of trekking. We had a quick breakfast just after 6:00 a.m., then the hotel furnished gaiters for all of us to wear. We then went to the Volcanoes National Park, famous for Mountain Gorilla Trekking. Here we are assigned the Gorilla family we will visit, meet John, our professional guide, and receive instructions. We were assigned the Kwisanga Family, an established family of a very large Silverback, Babies, and active group members: perfect. We then drove along the roughest mountain road to the closest drop-off point near this family of Gorillas. Here we picked up porters from the local village and began our trek up the mountain.  They furnish hiking sticks, and the porter will carry your backpack.  After approximately an hour, we met up with our Trackers and armed escorts as we were then close to the Gorillas.  From this point, we wore masks, left our porters behind, and followed the trackers until we encountered the Kwisanga Family within another 10 minutes.  For the next hour, we join the family from a safe distance, taking photographs and following them through the deep jungle as they move around and graze.  Obviously, the highlight and purpose of this adventure.  It’s important to get your photos, and I did, but soon I just tried to enjoy the overall experience of observing the gorilla family rather than focusing on individual members for a photo op.  It was Amazing.  What I enjoyed most was watching the DW in her element.  She was leading the way, with a beautiful smile of pure enjoyment.  It is a fascinating experience for us both. When our one-hour limit was up, we proceeded back to our porters and enjoyed snacks prepared for us by the hotel in the deep jungle.  The hike back seemed shorter and was downhill, and we were soon back with our group guides and vehicles.  We twice passed through an extremely rural village near the drop-off point, a flashback to an older, traditional Native lifestyle.  The young children were waving at the trekkers as we passed.  We had the realization of a complete African experience.  We returned to the hotel, and upon arrival, the staff removed our gaiters and took our shoes to be cleaned…what an amazing hotel service.  We then had a nice lunch in the restaurant and the rest of the afternoon to relax.  We were very tired and sore.  Already a very long day for us. We showered and took a nap.  After two hours, we were somewhat refreshed.  Took my famous silicone glass to the bar for ice and enjoyed some Coca-Cola.  I left my menu order for this evening before returning to our porch in the perfect weather.  At about 7:15 p.m., we went for cocktails and enjoyed the atmosphere until they seated us for dinner.  I had ordered a nice Vegetable Creme soup, the T-bone Steak for myself, and French Fries and White Rice for the wife. She loved my basic order for her entree.  Dessert was a nice Apple tart with local honey.   We then retired, and I updated this blog.  It was a milestone day for us.

Day 5 - Thursday, July 9th 2026 - Golden Monkey Trekking 

Same schedule and procedure as yesterday morning.  We had breakfast at 6:00 a.m. in the dining room. I had a wonderful Omolet with fruit, then went to be fitted with gaiters before loading up in the safari truck.   We returned to the Volcanoes National Park to get our assigned guide and location for the Monkey Trekking.  Perhaps a longer drive to the parking area, and we have a wonderful view of the Volcano.  The Treck was shorter, and again the porters were a great help.  We again had the Park wall to cross, but we had a pedestrian bridge to help with the crossing.  The group of monkeys was just a short walk away.  After half an hour, I had seen enough and just found a rock to rest on and enjoy the mountain views.  The group, our 8 plus 8 others assigned to our Park Guide, walked a bit farther, but the report was the same from either side of the troop of monkeys.  An easier Trek, but the monkeys were just not that impressive after viewing the gorillas yesterday.  I did enjoy getting out in the countryside, and the views of the Volcanoes were impressive. On the return, we stopped at the Kinigi Women's Village. It is set in a beautiful contemporary native-themed building featuring local women's crafts.  There were complimentary drinks, including Coca-Cola, followed by a tour of various women's crafts, including sewing, carving, dance, handiwork, and much more.  We purchased two carved gorillas and took photos of the ladies who had carved them.  The employees even wore Girl Power T-shirts. Very impressed with the architectural design, craft presentations, and the "helping local women" concept.  We then returned to the Lodge where they again took the gaiters and our shoes and cleaned them.  We then had lunch in the dining room, I had a Vegetableocal Pork dish, and had two wonderful Bananas Foster desserts Soup, tried a l.  I have enjoyed the local small banana all trip, but the dessert presentation was excellent.  The Group did a local tour, including a stop for Banna Beer, but the two of us took a nap and relaxed until our farewell BBQ dinner at 6:00 p.m.  We had a fire in the fire pit, and we, as well as most of the hotel, enjoyed a wonderful  African Show featuring lots of Drums & Dancing.  The native costumes were amazing.  Our group enjoyed a BBQ meal following the show and reviewed our final day in Rwanda tomorrow. It was an amazing day and a farewell-to-Rwanda party.

Day 6 - Friday, July 10th 2026 - Kigali - Flight to Nairobi

We had the Lodge’s breakfast buffet, then prepared to leave for Kigali, leaving at about 8:00 a.m.  Beautiful countryside on the drive back, wth Moutains, Villages and picturesque Farmsteads.  So interesting seeing locals walking on the road, especially women in native attire carrying items on their heads.  Once in Kigali, we visited the Kandt House Museum with a display of Colonial Kenyan History.  The grounds were very nice and had many Jaguranda Trees that I planted after visiting Guatemala.  Afterward, we had our farewell luncheon at The Greek Taverna in Kigali.  Very good Greek Food and nice gathering with Gate-1 Rwandan Manager.  After the luncheon, we went to the airport to catch our 5:30 p.m. flight to Nairobi, Kenya.  

Note:  I will (eventually) add many more photos at the end of this blog.

Carnival Mardi Gras - May 16, 2026

Carnival Mardi Gras -  May 16, 2026 - Cruise Review

Just The Facts:

Ship:  Mardi Gras, first of Carnival's Excel class @182,000 gross tons. 5282+ capacity.

Captain: Allesandro Iemmi  -   Cruise Director: Andy

Ports: Port Canaveral, FL  - Nassau, Bahamas - Amber Cove, DR - Grand Turk, BWI - Celebration Key, Bahamas

This is my 10th cruise on the Mardi Gras, my 115th Carnival cruise, and my 235th cruise overall.  I am sailing as a solo guest, but traveling with two friends as part of a Seminar at Sea program for Carnival Travel Agents. 

Day 1 - Saturday, May 16 - Embarkation - Port Canaveral, Florida

I began the day early, finished my packing, and then met friends who are riding with me to the port this morning.  We were away at about 9:30 a.m. and arrived at Park-n-Cruise at about noon.  We were shuttled to the Mardi Gras pier and used the Diamond priority lines during check-in.  We were successful in hitting the sweet spot, just after the initial rush,  all morning:  No lines at parking, embarkation, or boarding.  Just a smooth, keep-moving-along process.  After checking into our Muster Station, we dropped our luggage in our cabins.  We decided on BBQ for lunch, as it is the easiest option at embark, and, again, no line.  Also, several bar servers, if needed.  I enjoyed the Pig & Anchor BBQ plate, then returned to my now-officially-open cabin.  I have a nice balcony on deck 9 forward on the starboard side. Today is the second day of the NCAA WCWS softball championships, and the game I was interested in was at 3:00 p.m. I set up my WiFi and was ready by the opening pitch. I unpacked while watching the game. The cabin is spacious for a solo, and I was finished as Oklahoma won 8-0. Our Seminar at Sea group met for cocktails in the Havana Bar at 5:00 p.m., with unlimited cocktails for an hour, and excellent food options…I’ve never had many of these h’orderves offered by Carnival. I had fresh Shrimp, two different steak tenderloin items, and other items, including Chicken Satay, two different Sushi items, and fresh Fruit. I retired to the cabin and decided to skip dinner tonight as my body is still on Middle European time. The past three nights have been: sleep at 7:30 p.m., then wake between midnight & 1:00 a.m for an hour+, then sleep until 5:00 am. Not too bad of a schedule, but hopefully this cruise with set times will have me back to normal soon. I did get the blog updated in that middle-of-the-night window. We experienced a unique event at about 7:00 p.m., when we rescued a stranded boat with about 6 passengers. It was on the starboard side, so I had a front-row seat for this. They were taken aboard the Mardi Gras, and we were again on our way in about an hour. It was an easy embarkation day for me and the rescued on the Carnival Mardi Gras today.

Day 2 - Sunday, May 17 - Nassau, Bahamas

Smooth seas, and I slept very well overnight.  I like the automatic night lights that turn on when you get up at night.  It was the inspiration for what I did on our recent bath remodel in Florida.  Still on CET time, I was up early and first in line at the Blue Iguana @ 7:00 a.m.  I do miss my favorite cruise breakfast of: two fried egg heavos rancheros, salsas, & more…the Best Breakfast at Sea (photo).  Also nice to be first at the watermelon bowl.  I then went to Guest Services for a partial refund of my Premium Package after discovering that WiFi is included with my Seminar at Sea booking.  They were very cooperative about it. Kudos to Carnival.  Too early for the best Bloody Mary at Summer Landing, so I had one at La Bella Rosa.  I also took some Coke back to the cabin.  A productive early morning.  I took a mid-morning nap and went to Big Chicken for lunch at about noon.  I did a Walkabout when I woke, then watched the championship game of the NCAA Norman Softball Regional, which Oklahoma won.  I then met the girls at the Alchemy Bar and enjoyed some proper martinis before dinner.  Dinner was at 7:45 p.m. in the Palm Restaurant (MDR), and I ordered the Escargot, two Shrimp Cocktails,  the Beef Bourganone entree, and a Mango Fruit Tart for dessert. I enjoyed my French dinner choices.  The escargot was very nice, but the beef bourguignon was much better in France. All very good though. We met Andy, the Cruise Director, who was on the Fun Squad when I met him previously.  The girls went to his own comedy show at 9:30 p.m., but I retired.  I was happy to have stayed up long enough for dinner.  I'm hoping my jet lag will be over by tomorrow and I will be on a normal schedule. It was a nice Sunday on board the Mardi Gras.

Day 3 - Monday, May 18 - Fun Day at Sea  

I slept very well but woke up super early @ 5:00 a.m., so I updated this blog and reviewed the WCWS super regional softball matchups. I do enjoy following the Sooner team.  Streaming on cruise ships has improved so much that you can basically follow all the news and sports live while at sea.  Thanks, Elon.  I went to the Blue Iguana again for breakfast when it opened at 7:30 a.m. on this seaday, for IMHO, the best breakfast at sea.  One of my friends surprised me by coming by as well.  Our Seminar at Sea met this morning at 9:00 a.m.  They had a variety of soft drinks, coffee, fruit, and pastries available. They have been very professional in organizing this meeting.  The content is really for newbie agents, but I picked up a few interesting facts.  Certainly a lot of attention for the port of Galveston.  The next two Excel-class ships will be going to Port Canaveral and the Port of Galveston, giving each port two Excel-class ships.  The Carnival Diamond Luncheon was held at noon in the Flamingo Restaurant.  Andrew, the CD, was a very good host; everyone seemed to love him. Our service team was very impressive, memorizing our names immediately.  The new menu was nice. I ordered the Teriyaki Pork Bites, the Filet Mignon entree, and the Five-Layered Pistachio Cake for dessert.  Cocktails were plentiful as well.  I took the afternoon off, but was unsuccessful with napping.  I did get some important Bosque Travel work completed that I could not do while in Europe.  I met the girls in the Magnola Lounge for cocktails.  I head the end of the Jazz group, then the beginning of a 3-man Fiddle group, Sky Breeze, from Ukraine.   Both were good.  Tonight we ate in the MDR and enjoyed the Gala Night menu.  We ordered five entrees among the three of us so we could sample them all family-style.  It was very good.  There was Veal, Filet Mignon, Pork Belly, and Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo. Also, a Vegetarian Wellington.   It was a good idea.  Afterward, the girls dressed as Waldo and met up at the Fortune Teller Bar with about 24 other Waldos from the active FB group.  I retired but was hopeful I would adjust to my jet lag.  It was a busy and fun sea day on the Mardi Gras.

Day 4 - Tuesday, May 19 - Amber Cove, Dominican Republic

Smooth seas overnight, and I slept well.  I did wake early, and I went to the Blue Iguana for the best breakfast at sea.  There was a line on the burrito side when I arrived, but no one on the heavavos rancheros side. I find that unusual, but I assume most guests are only familiar with burritos.  The girls stopped by on their way to do the new lazy river here.  I’m sure Carnival has added it, as it is the free feature of Taino Bay, the other cruise terminal located only a few miles away in Puerto Plata.  I’m staying on board as I have been to Amber Cove numerous times and in the DR already three times this year.  At about noon, I went up to Deck 17 and the famous Guy’s Burgers for a couple of nice cheeseburgers…they were great, too.   I had Balcony time the rest of the afternoon, I had both the view and the shade working for me, as well as perfect weather.  I met the girls in the Brass Magnolia for cocktails and I was quite impressed with the Solo Guitar Sounds with Kraig (as Carnival bills him).  We enjoyed two full sets, one being Fleetwood Mac hits, then he joined us at our table.  Even more impressed.  I’ve met many of the solo guitarists over the years and, to this day, remain good friends with two of them, but this young man has excellent talent and showmanship. At dinner, we were joined by the two ladies from Carnival corporate doing the Seminar and the ship’s group coordinator.  That was some interesting conversation. Plus, there were five ladies, and I. Dinner service was again excellent, as was the variety of choices.  The new menus are interesting, but not easy to follow in organization.  A paper menu does provide a better view to follow the areas and Menu themes. i.e. - everyday items, special items, crew’s choices,  chef’s choices, items based on port, etc.  Tonight I ordered all the Chef’s Picks: Oven-baked Meatballs, Beetroot Carpaccio & Greens,  Roast Beef Strip Loin entree, and Bitter & Blanc.  As a meat lover, I also ordered the Bacon-wrapped Pork Tenderloin entree.  Sounds wonderful on the menu, but I was disappointed with all except the Meatball appetizer, which was outstanding.  The girls had some late casino time, and I retired.  I seem to have settled into a 5:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. day;  I’ll take that for now.  It was a FUN day on the Mardi Gras.     

Day 5 - Wednesday, May 20 - Grand Turk,  British Overseas Territory    

I slept well overnight, again waking at 5:00 a.m., which gives me time to update my blog and prepare for the day. At about 7:00 a.m. I went up to the Blue Iguana for another great breakfast, and I had a perfect view of us arriving and docking at Grand Turk. All the Beach Clubs and tourist boats await our arrival in the peaceful morning. The water is very nice here, and I had some Balcony time until about 11:30 a.m., when I went to Big Chicken for lunch. I had a Jerome Sandwich, Tenders with Fries, and a Coca-Cola, all of which were very good. On my way out, the girls came in, so I chatted with them. We made plans for cocktails later, I know they are having a Spa afternoon. I had some more balcony time, then did some research in the afternoon and paid bills (cruises). Routine, but my office for the day has a beautiful view of the Caribbean. I met the girls at the Fortune Teller Bar at about 5:30 p.m., and Kraig had just started his first set. I enjoyed some FT specialty cocktails that I haven’t had in a while. I only recognized one bartender (Angela) from previous cruises. We stayed long enough to see the Mardi Gras parade that came right by us on its way to the Center Stage. It was Fun! We also hatched a plan to eat at two Restaurants this evening. We ate in the MDR as scheduled @ 7:45 p.m. I ordered a Shrimp Cocktail and a Gazpacho Soup and shared a Short Ribs entree. Kaisa, our wonderful Team-Leader server, knew our plan, and at 8:20 p.m., we received a notification that our table in La Cucina d’Capitano was ready for us. We excused ourselves and were promptly seated, looking at a new specialty menu. I ordered: a Nona’s Meatball, Farfalle Al Pistachio, and the premium dessert ($6) Mile-High Gelato Pie. All was good, the pie was shared. The girls stayed for the production show on the Center Stage, and I retired to the cabin. It was another Fun day on Mardi Gras.

Day 6 - Thursday, May 21 - Fun Day at Sea  

Smooth seas overnight, and I slept well and woke at 5:15 a.m.  I was on Lido early and had my usual breakfast at Blue Iguana.  They now know my usual order.  At 9:00 a.m., I attended the final session of the Carnival Seminar @ Sea seminar.  I learned one thing… the ability to send a final payment notification to a client so they can submit their payment directly to Carnival.  The agent wouldn’t have to maintain credit card numbers.  That could be useful.  Afterward, we ate BBQ  in Summer Landing on Deck 8 aft.  I had beef brisket, pulled pork, beans, and slaw.  It was good, and they have a variety of BBQ sauces. I prefer the vinegar of North Carolina sauce.  After a walkabout on the ship, I had Cabin/Balcony time.  At 4:00 p.m. I met the girls at the Diamond/Platinum party in the Theater.  Andy did a good job.  No, Captain, and E.P.  was the high cruiser,  and I did reminisce with him a bit afterward.  The seminar group had all the seats and tables at the 5:45 seating at Tappenyaki tonight.   One of my favorite specialty restaurants was very good.   I had the Giesha Cocktail (2), the Miso Soup,  the Pork Belly Yakatori starter, the Fried Tuna starter,  the Tappenyaki White Shrimp starter,  a full Filet Mignon entree, a half Lobster entree, and the Green Tea Ice-cream Cake for dessert.  It was a LOT of food, and it was very good.   We did a walkabout the ship afterward, and I think the girls stayed for the production show at Centerstage, while I retired to my cabin.  It was a Fun Day at Sea on the Mardi Gras.  

Day 7 - Friday, May 22nd - Celebration Key, Bahamas

Smooth seas, and I slept well and slept late for me.  We were docked when I woke at about 7:30 a.m.   I didn’t get to the Blue Iguana until after 8:00 a.m., where I had my usual breakfast, and I got my first view of the recently opened Celebration Key.  It is a large area with significant growth potential.   Many Caribbean-themed areas for families or adults.   My view suggests that a lot of walking is involved, even just to reach the entry.  I will pass on exploring today.   At about noon, I went to Guy’s Burgers for a double with grilled onions and fries.  It was very good, along with my Coca-Cola from the Red Frog Pub.  I went to the cabin to watch the Norman Super Regional softball game at 1:00 p.m.  Very disappointing game.  At about 5:00 p.m. I went to Brass Magnolia for early cocktails, as I have a 5:45 p.m. meet time for the Chef’s Table.  The Chef’s Table is a limited-opportunity experience for a small group to dine in a unique venue featuring unique gourmet food.  Our Dining Room was located in the middle of the main kitchen, so we were dodging waiters fulfilling orders from the cooking stations on our way there.  Very interesting process.  We only had ten guests this evening, so it was very nice.  It was a 12-course serving lasting about 2+ hours in the following order: Canapés: Duck Cigar, Tuna Crudo, Avocado Popper, & Land & Sea. Then we had the Lobster Our Way, Chef’s Sampler, Dover Sole, & Hickory-Smoked Lamb Loin, followed by a Sorbet before the main entree of Braised Wagyu.  The dessert was Chocolate Forest, consisting of: Fudge, Mousse, Meringue, Sponge, & Chocolate Sauce. Small portions of each, and the presentation of each was amazing.  My first time having the new Chef's Table menu as well.  I would do it again.  A short walkabout before returning to the cabin to pack.  I usually do the self-debark, but I will be placing my bag out tonight.   We do have priority No. 1, so we should still be off early.  It was a great final day on the Mardi Gras. 

Saturday, May 23rd - Debarkation

I slept well, but got up early.  We went down to deck 6 at about 7:25 a.m. and, within a few minutes, debarked as they had already announced luggage tag #1.  We found our bags, went through security, boarded our parking bus, loaded the car, and were on the freeway at 8:00 a.m. Amazing.  Home at 10:00 a.m.  Amazing.

                                                                                                                                                                              

Europe (post cruise) - Bucherest Romania - Windsor England

The two days in Bucharest are a part of Gate-1 tour operations, so we have a Travel Manager to help if needed.  The final two days in Windsor, UK, we added to break up the long flight back to Florida.  

Day 1 - Sunday, May 10th, 2026 - Romania - Giurgiu - Bucharest City Tour 

We boarded our Bus at 8:30 a.m. and met our local guide, Ana, for our short trip to Bucharest.  Southern Romania has great pastureland north of the Danube, and nice scenery once we're away.  Arriving on the outskirts of Bucharest, Ana pointed out two 3-story houses with unique architecture; they were Roma houses, something I had not seen before, but I won't forget.  Gypsies are 10% of the population.  Once in town, we started with a panoramic view of two of the world's largest buildings: the Palace of the Parliament (large photo above), a massive structure built under Nicolae Ceaușescu to convey the power of Communist rule, and the largest Orthodox Christian Church in the World, both of which are very close to each other.  We visited the Palace of Parliament on a previous visit here… BTW, it’s 9 stories above ground and 9 levels below ground. We then passed by other highlights, including the Romanian Athenaeum and the Arcul de Triumf, reminiscent of the similar-looking arch in Paris. It was a nice introduction to Bucharest.  The best was our lunch and time in the Old Town area at Caru'cu bere (photo), an architecturally notable Romanian restaurant with wood paneling, stained-glass windows & a patio.  It’s also my personal favorite place in town, with IMHO the best Romanian food.  I enjoyed the Bread, the hearty Chicken Soup, and especially the traditional Sarmale. The added bonus is that they had my favorite beer, Pilsner Urquell, on draft. This was a great surprise, as I did not know until this morning that it would be our lunch location.  I so enjoyed it on our previous visit.  The folk dancing was good too.  After lunch, we went to the Hotel Sheraton Bucharest, our home for two nights.  Our luggage was in our room when we arrived, and the large room was nice after the last seven days in the cruise cabin.  We relaxed and enjoyed the cabin until we retired early.  A great day in Bucharest.

Day 2 - Monday, May 11th, 2026 -  Bucharest, Romania. 

We slept well overnight in our very nice and cool room.  At about 8:30 a.m. I went down to the hotel restaurant where the breakfast buffet is served.  I had a nice omelet and bacon, then took pastries back to the room for the DW.  We have no plans this morning after touring Bucharest, so we have free time until 1:30 p.m. for our optional tour.  We did a walkabout of the immediate neighborhood, and I stopped at Phatty’s Burgers because they offer an Oklahoma Burger.  There is none better than an Oklahoma Onion Fried Hamburger, but they are closed on Mondays.  We did some shopping and observed the architecture, the most interesting of which is a 19th-century mansion that serves as an entry to a modern building.  We stopped at a local McDonald's to drink a Coca-Cola before returning to the hotel.  At 1:30 p.m., we took the scheduled optional tour: Snagov Monastery & Mogosoaia.  The first stop was the Mogosoaia Palace, the former residence of Wallachian royalty.  A very old palace that had been added to over the years, beautiful grounds, and we viewed the interior Royal Apartments.  We then traveled to the 15th-century Christian-Orthodox Snagov Monastery. It's believed to be the burial place of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula.  Beautiful small church with beautiful artwork (photo, also note the grave).  We arrived back at the hotel at about 6:30 pm and decided to eat there after reviewing the menu.  DW ordered a local version of a Greek Salad, and I had a Beetroot Salad and a plate of traditional Sarmale dish (not as good as Caru’cu bere), but good.  We also ordered Hugo Spritz cocktails and paid with Romanian Leu notes I still had from our visit a few years ago. My guess is that they will be using Euros by our next visit.  We then retired as we have a very early day in the morning.  A good full day in Bucharest.

Day 3 - Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 -  Travel to Windsor, UK

We, along with several others, were up very early to catch our 4:45 a.m. airport shuttle.  A relatively small airport for a European capital city, and all went smoothly for our flight.  The British Airways flight departed on time at 8:40 a.m. and arrived a bit early after a 3.5-hour flight.  Our luggage was shipshape, and our driver was right on time to meet us.  In 45 minutes, we arrived at our hotel, The Harte & Garter Hotel; however, the street was blocked off due to the Changing of the Guard parade in the Castle directly across the street.  Our great driver, a former Royal Horse Guard himself, dropped us in the rear, just a short walk away.  We arrived just as the royal Band and Guards exited the Castle and marched onto our street.  We had a nice view, and they didn’t have to have such a showy welcome for us.  If you read last September's blog post, we arrived in Windsor just following our President's departure, and they had hundreds of American Flags out for us.  I guess they like Ray & Terry visiting here.  It is one of our favorites.  We dropped our bags and had two hours before our room was ready, as we gained two hours when converting from Eastern European Time to British Summer Time.  We had a great meal at 5-Guys and did some shopping.  I bought a new hat, the second of this journey.  We returned to the hotel at 1:30 p.m. local time and, as promised, went to our room, where our bags were waiting.  Nice-sized room in this quaint vintage hotel located right on High Street.  Now, the big surprise: the magnificent view of Windsor Castle.  We are on the third floor (309), just high enough above the street to see almost ALL of the castle.  We can easily see: St. George’s Chapel, King Henry III Tower, King Henry VIII Gateway, and more.  Sir Christopher Wren is our go-to hotel, and the McDonald Hotel, just a long block away, is our 2nd choice (both better quality hotels), but this view is remarkable.  Very glad we decided to try the Harte & Garter this trip.  An Inn has been on this site since 1300 and the current building dates to 1898. We took a wee nap, and I updated this blog before walking to our favorite Pub, The Two Brewers, for draft beer and cider.  Cool weather today, so we sat inside at the same table as Prince William and Eugene Levy when they filmed the Reluctant Traveler episode for AppleTV.  The pub has added photos to the wall commemorating the event.  Still a great authentic British Pub.  We did a slow walkabout on our return to the hotel.  A great travel day today.

Day 4 - Wednesday, May 13th, 2026 -  Windsor, UK

We woke early as the sun came streaming into our room.  We did an early walkabout, stopping at Wentz’s for a donut at about 8:00 a.m.  Inspired by our visit to Cambridge and Oxford last September, we decided to walk across the pedestrian bridge over the Thames to see Eaton College.  It was only a 16-minute walk, and it was interesting to watch students in very proper uniforms rushing to class.  We did see a rare Queen Victoria Postal Box along the way, too.  Interesting shops on Eaton’s High Street selling Eaton class uniforms and sporting uniforms.  We made our way back to Windsor, stopping on the bridge to view the many Swanns and overlook the Christopher Wren Hotel on the water.  Due to the Windsor Horse Show this week, we couldn’t get rooms.  We did stop at McDonald’s for an English Egg McMuffin and Coca-Cola.  It began to cloud over, and it actually rained off and on the rest of the day.  It was nice walking around the Castle area before the Touists arrive.  After some rest at our centrally located hotel, we walked towards the Windsor Great Park.  I ducked into the Two Brewers Pub (photo) while the DW walked a good portion of the park.  She saw several carriages out and about. I think they were a part of the Horse Show. We also visited the local Parish Church and did some shopping before dodging another rain shower back at the hotel.  In the late afternoon, we went to The King & Castle Pub, a part of the popular JD Witherspoon Pubs family.  We had Pub Grub.  I ordered the Steak & Kidney Pudding with Chips and Peas, along with Onion Rings and a Pilsner Beer.  Just missed another rain shower while eating. We picked up some gifts on our final walkabout.  We are retiring early on our final night of the trip.  I updated this blog, and we both packed for the final time.  It’s been a long and great European journey.

Day 5 - Thursday ay 14th, 2026 - Travel Home

We were up early to meet our 5:45 a.m. Windsor Taxi to LHR airport.  We were in the lobby earlier, and he was as well, so off we went.  Very smooth at the airport, with helpers along the way, as everything is now automated. I had time for a nice hot ham & cheese croissant for breakfast, and the DW picked up some gift items at the Harrods airport store.  We had great exit row seats and endured the lingering flight.  We transferred from Charlotte, NC, to Tampa.  In the future, we will try to book direct flights from Europe to Tampa, which will be easier.  Bottom line, we Ubered home and arrived at about 6:30 p.m.  Nineteen hours of travel.  

Monarch Baroness River Cruise - May 3-10, 2026

Monarch Baroness River Cruise - May 3-10, 2026

This is a continuation of our 2026 Europe trip, following our wonderful Gate-1 Discover Northern France tour.  This ship is owned by Gate-1, and this is only our second River Cruise in Europe, and 234th cruise overall.  I am traveling with my Dear Wife (DW).  

Day 1 - Sunday, May 3rd, 2026  -   Travel Day - Embarkation - Budapest, Hungary

We woke in Versailles, France, and took an afternoon Air France flight from CDG to BUD, arriving at about 6:40 p.m.  We landed about an hour late due to thunderstorms in the Paris area, but the flight was smooth, and our seats were excellent. We were pleased to see all of our baggage on the luggage carousel, as one luggage tag was unclear.  So, a nice, uneventful flight.  We took a local taxi ($42) to the riverfront on the Buda side until we came to the Monarch Baroness (MB).  It was about 7:00 p.m and we could see through the picture windows that dinner had started as we came down the gangway.  We were checked in and stowed our luggage, then were seated for dinner, only fashionably late.  Super!  Milos, our very helpful Serbian waiter, got us caught up on the servings, so I didn’t really see the menu for proper names, but I had a vegetable-based soup, a very nice Beef entree with fresh vegetables, and a super Horseradish, then a Fruit plate for dessert.  We obviously missed the orientation at 5:00 p.m., so I did a walkabout to familiarize myself with our home for the next seven days.  The MB had arranged for some local Hungarian folk singers and dancers.  I caught the end of their routine in the lounge. It was a talented group.  I had taken my travel glass with me, so I enjoyed a nice Coca-Cola from the bar at the lounge entrance.  Our cabin is located only 50 feet away across the upper gallery.  Cabin 401 is the first cabin on the starboard deck on the upper deck.  An excellent location.  Upon my return, we enjoyed the beautiful view of the Hungarian Parliament Building from our balcony (photo) and watched the local sunset cruises on the Danube River.  We have previously stayed in Budapest, so we were familiar with the various sites and bridges.  We set up our cabin, and the storage is quite adequate. We are pleased not to be living out of our suitcases as we have been for the past 12 days.  We retired and reflected on how blessed we are to have experienced Paris, France, and Budapest, Hungary, in a single great day of travel.

Day 2 - Monday, May 4th, 2026   - Departing Budapest, Hungary

We both slept very well.  We were originally scheduled to sail at midday, but left at about 3:00 a.m. due to concerns about low water levels.  At about 8:00 a.m., we docked at a small port, Solt,  approximately 60 miles downstream, near Dunaföldvár, so that guests could take a bus back to Budapest for a city tour.  We passed on doing that, as did many other guests. I assume many came early and had already toured Budapest.  Breakfast is served from 6:30 to 8:30, so I had the best Eggs I have had on this Europe trip, also the Hot Milk was perfect.  The DW has been sleeping in, so I took Crosaints back to the cabin.  I did another walkabout, found the ice and water stations, and then went up to the massive Sun Deck above us.  This is larger than our previous riverboat.  The crew has been very friendly and helpful everywhere I go.  When DW woke, we took another walkabout, and our cabin attendant did our cabin.  Half of the guests on tour arrived back at 1:15 p.m., just before the dining room opened for lunch at 1:30 p.m. Lunch was excellent; the spaghetti carbonara was the feature, with a Chef serving, but to me it was undercooked.  The Hungarian Goulash on the buffet was excellent, especially with the mashed otatoes an fresh vegetables.  I had the ice cream selections for dessert.  Also, Coca-Cola, wine, or beer is included at meals.  After lunch, I took a very nice nap. Note to self: keep shades closed during afternoon sun.  The cabin warmed up fast while asleep.  DW passed on dinner, and I sat with a nice couple from Minnesota.  Still a Hungarian menu, I ordered: the Magyar Appetizer (salami and kolbas), the Hungarian Soup (Gulyas), the Beetroot Risotto entree, and Tiramisu for dessert (photo).  The food was great. I’m trying to learn some Balanise words for the waiters and used Suksma (thanks) tonight…I had extra Coca-Cola all evening.  It was a very relaxing day with great food, so perfect.

Day 3 - Tuesday, May 5th, 2026   -  Vukovar and Osijek, Croatia

We are sleeping well on this riverboat, and we were up early as we are now fully rested.  We are docked in Upper Croatia this morning.  I have a friend who lives in Osijek, Miro, who many of my cruise friends will know, but will miss him by a day, as he is in Bratislava until tomorrow,  so close. Bright and sunny this morning as we prepare for a tour.  We went to breakfast when it opened at 7:00 a.m.  I tried the scrambled eggs on the buffet, and they were very good, unlike the ones in France.  Pastries, Bacon, and Hot Milk were also good.  Our tour today left at about 8:30 a.m., and we walked through Vukovar, which has been rebuilt to 75% since the Yugoslav Wars, but many buildings are still in ruins, with more showing the scars of war.  Ground zero here with Serbia across the river.  Really very sad.  We then drove for about an hour to Osijek, the 4th-largest city in Croatia (photo).  War ruins and monuments here as well, but a booming city with streetcars and large churches.  We had a 45-minute walking tour, then 45 minutes of free time.  We visited the large church, then had a quick Coca-Cola and Fries from McDonald’s.  Between the two was the American Bar, where I had the local Antique Pelinkovac, a traditional drink often claimed to have medicinal qualities. This is also the bar location that my friend Miro was associated with.  A good visit.  We then returned to the ship, where lunch was served at about 1:30 p.m.  Great BBQ Pork Ribs were the feature today.  We rested and watched a new movie, Housemaid (2025), in the cabin.  It was great.  We had an earlier-than-usual dinner featuring a Minute Steak as we docked and cleared customs in Novi Sad, Serbia.  The Cruise Director was doing a walkabout, but due to a delayed arrival and longer customs clearance, we passed as it was already 9:00 p.m.  We did go outside and enjoyed the city & river views before retiring. It was an interesting day in the Balkan ports.

Day 4 - Wednesday, May 6th, 2026   -  Belgrade, Serbia 

I slept very well, but I woke at about 2:00 a.m. when we were casting off from the floating pier in Novi Sad.  And I was awake for the day when we sailed into the Sava River at about 6:30 a.m. to access the city center and the Belgrade river pier.  Sunny with some clouds and cool this morning, but warm this afternoon.  I had a nice hot breakfast in the MDR and brought back Croissants for the DW.  At 9:00 a.m., our three buses began the City Tour of Belgrade, going up the hill to the original location of the Belgrade Fortress. (photo) located atop the escarpment at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers.  Originally built by Celtic Tribes in the 3rd century, it became a Roman Fort, then a Byzantine Fort, then a Slavic, Bulgarian, Ottoman, and Austrian Fort, and then finally Serbs.  A very strategic site.  Many different walls and Gates over the years, too.  Now a Park with monuments, and scenic overviews of the area.  Next to the Fortress is the original old town, now home to the main pedestrian street with shops, restaurants, bars, bookstores, galleries, and more.  On our way to the Tito Museum and Mausoleum, our local guide pointed out various landmark Hotels, Monuments, Churches, and government buildings in the upper and lower towns.  The guide was really hilarious in his constant commentary on the incompetence of the local government, both now and over the years.  Really clever stuff.  The Tito site was not worthwhile, poor maintenance, trash, many steep steps without railings,  IMHO: not worth the visit.  In another two generations, no one will care.  We went back to the ship for lunch, and in the afternoon, shuttle buses were arranged to take guests to the High Street.  As the temperatures were now very warm, we decided to relax on board.  However, the temperature in our cabin became unbearable, so I took my laptop to the lounge, just next door, which was cooler.  For some reason, the cabin never cooled.  When DW went to the Desk the second time, she insisted that the Hotel Director or a senior follow her back. Once they observed the cabin at 83 degrees, they realized the seriousness of the situation.  Bottom line, we moved from 401 to 301 just below.  So that was our afternoon.  Same cabin attendant, still a short walk, but now to the dining room, front desk, ice, and exits.  We went to dinner at 7:00 p.m., and I enjoyed tonight’s featured entree: Pork Tenderloin.  When we returned to the new cabin, it had cooled.  They offered some local Serbian folk dance in the Lounge, but after some WiFi & TV, we tried to retire, only to have a face-to-face with Serbian Border Control at about 10:30 p.m. when we left port.  An interesting day in Serbia.

Day 5 - Thursday, May 7th, 2026   -  Scenic River Cruise Day 

We set our clocks forward one hour overnight to Eastern European Time.  Good day to do so, as we have no ports today.  The cabin temperature was 66 degrees this morning…excellent.  I was among the first at breakfast this morning, as we’re just next door and the time change was in effect.  I had the Chef prepare three fried eggs over easy, and they were excellent with my bacon and croissants.  At about 9:40 a.m., we staked out a perfect spot in the lounge for the narrated journey, where the Danube cuts through the Iron Gates (mountains), creating beautiful formations and, at one point, a very narrow channel.  It was a beautiful area.  The bonus was that Bloody Marys were 50% off from 10:00-11:00 p.m.  It was perfect as it had become cooler on the outer decks. We reached the highlight of the area: a huge carving of King Decebalus, the last ruler of Dacia who fought the Roman Empire (late 1st–early 2nd century AD).  Our narrator called it the Romanian Mt. Rushmore.  It was very impressive.  We also saw a 2,500-year-old Roman Monument on the Serbian side of the Danube, honoring Roman engineers and soldiers who guarded the Iron Gates.  Lunch was very good; they served Serbian food that made Milos proud. I really enjoyed the Pork Belly from the Carving station.  I think I figured out the system: we had Hungarian food the day after we left, then Serbian food after we left Serbia.  IMHO, the Chef shops while in the ports.  If we have Bulgarian food on our last day, then that may prove it.  We had a relaxing afternoon in the cool cabin, and I updated this blog and reviewed the Markets.  We went through a huge double lock at about 1:00 p.m., always interesting. Then did so again in the late afternoon.  The dinner specialty tonight was Duck, but I’ve had a lot of it of late, so I had the Fish entree.  We skipped the gala show tonight and retired.  We are enjoying our cool cabin.  A great day as King Decebalus was on my bucket list.

Day 6 - Friday, May 8th, 2026   -  Vidin, Bulgaria 

I slept well in our nice, cool cabin, and we were up early.  I had breakfast in the dining room, and the omelet was wonderful.  I took the usual back to the cabin for the DW.  We only have a walking tour scheduled in Vidin today, and the ship is basically docked in the center of town.  Along the river is a park and promenade with cafes and more. We got off the ship early because the weather was great, and I got a photo of the town sign.  We then sat on a bench and soon met a dog (beagle/hound mix) that came straight up to us as we waited for the official tour.  The group of 28 began the tour just after 9:00 a.m., and walked along the promenade, passing the Theater, Restaurants, and Cafes.  The dog joined in.  We stopped at the Muslim Mosque, where they left bottled water and Turkish Delight for visitors.  That was my first exposure to the actual Bulgarian Delight made nearby.  It was delicious, just the type of candy I like.  We tried to buy some, but were unsuccessful. We’ll look tomorrow when we’re in a city.  The tour then proceeded to the Orthodox Church.  Our tour guide happens to be the choir director here.  She also sang us a song while we were outside waiting to enter.  Inside the church was small but beautiful.  Very impressive, actually.  We actually went ahead of the tour, as I knew the route and didn’t want to wait for the few who took a toilet break.  The dog joined us.  We inferred that the dog probably did this with every river-walking group.  We continued down the promenade and saw the new war memorial on the way to Baba Vita.  A site that has been fortified since the Romans.  The Castle was a Royal site in the 15th century, and those displays were the best.  We had time to explore it before the tour group arrived.  We rested while they explored.  We then walked to a Gate-1 bus that gave half of us a ride back to the port.  Here, as we departed, the dog gave us a smile and a final wag of the tail.  He was a wonderful escort.  We made a quick comfort stop, went back into town, and stopped at the Theater Restaurant we saw earlier.  We had a fantastic Pizza, a local dish, Pork Kavarma (reminded me of fajita fixin’s), a Coca-Cola, and two large draft Czech Staropramen beers on tap, all for a low price ($20 UD).  The bread served with the meal, and the pizza dough were amazingly good.  My first experience with a squat toilet, too. A great place for a meal and a break from the ship's food.  We were back on board well before our 3:45 p.m. sail away.    Rest and relaxation until our 7:00 p.m. special final dinner.  Nice menu tonight, with soup, hot and cold appetizers, the featured Chateaubriand entree, and Baked Alaska for dessert.  The Hotel Director introduced the various departments, Chefs, and staff.  We retired after dinner, and I updated this blog and made some travel arrangements for our final destination.  It was a great day with great weather and great food.

Day 7 - Saturday, May 9th, 2026   -  Rousse, Bulgaria  

We slept very well overnight.  We’re going to do our own city tour today, so we took a casual morning.  I went for breakfast after the first tour left this morning, so it was not busy at all, so I had a nice omelet with bacon and my hot milk.  We left the ship at about 9:15 a.m. and actually found ourselves between two groups, it was nice to confirm the initial direction to the city center but my Google Map App was sending us on our way.  Once we reached the Pedestrian area, we took some photos and passed: Liberty Square, the Theater, the Courthouse, and City Hall.  Throughout the area are cafes, landscaping, park benches, and restaurants. We sat, enjoyed Coca-Colas, and did some people-watching. We saw our tours go by, as well as three from an Avalon ship. When I was exercising my knee as we were leaving, we engaged a local who was sympathetic and guessed each other's ages. I was one year older, so he lost the bet.  But his English was fair, and he made it clear he loved Americans and our President. Ruse has a clean and efficient pedestrian area. We visited some shops, and we found some Bulgarian Delights.  We passed a barber shop on the way in and had hoped it would be open when we returned; the barber pole was working, so I stopped for a haircut.  It turned into a fun visit because they wanted to practice English.  We got along well.  I received a great two-person cut, the apprentice did the machine work, and the professional fished the hand cut.  They asked whether the name of the shop was too offensive or in keeping with the spirit.  We posed for photos and left with two new friends.  We stopped for two beers and two Cokes and made it back on board in time for a nice lunch.  In the afternoon, we reviewed debark information, did some packing, and caught up on news from the USA. Then I updated this blog and enjoyed a Staropramen beer as I looked out on the Danube from our cabin.  Dinner tonight was good, but we wanted to get back to the cabin to pack.

Sunday, May 10th, 2026   -  Romania - Giurgiu Debarkation - Bucharest City Tour

We placed all of our luggage out at 7:00 a.m. and had a nice breakfast, the last omelet for me.  At about 8:30 a.m., we boarded our bus to Bucharest and bade farewell to the Monarch Baroness.

Gate-1 River Cruise

 

Although I have done several land tours with Gate-1 Travel, this is my first time doing one of their river cruises.  I’ve never been a river cruise fan; in fact, as a Travel Agent, I discouraged it because too many things can go wrong on a river cruise, primarily too much water or, more likely, too little water.  Then you’re on a very expensive bus tour.  I haven’t changed my mind about that.  The Monarch Baroness is a typical large passenger river vessel and seems to be in ship shape.  The crew was wonderful, and the food was very good… those are the two most important issues.  Itineraries are a personal choice. We picked this cruise primarily to see the Romanian Danube valley. We didn't stop anywhere in Romania until the final day, but we did see King Decebalus and the Iron Gates.  The rest of the stops were IMHO ‘meh’, although we had fun in Bulgaria.  I doubt I will take another river cruise regardless of the cruise company.  The guests on this sailing that I met were all great people, and the crew was more than adequate.  My favorite crew member would be Suwardi, our cabin steward, who helped with our cabin move and really showed genuine concern about our well-being.